American singer Brooke Hogan made the difficult decision to remove herself from her father Hulk Hogan’s will in 2023, more than a year before the wrestling legend’s death.
According to a report from TMZ, the ‘About Us’ hitmaker voluntarily stepped away from any inheritance, fearing that those close to Hulk were trying to take advantage of him during a vulnerable time. Despite her deep love for her father, the reality star and singer reached out to his financial manager to ensure she would have no part in the legal or financial matters following his death.
Brooke’s concerns stemmed from what she described as a growing influence of outsiders who created distance between her and her father. “I know in my heart I did everything I could,” she wrote in a recent Instagram tribute. “He knew I would run through a burning building for him. And in many ways, along the path of life, I did.”
Hulk Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, died on July 24 from cardiac arrest at the age of 71. In the days following his passing, Brooke posted an emotional message reflecting on their complex bond.
“When he left this earth, it felt like part of my spirit left with him,” she wrote. “I felt it before the news even reached us. I know he’s at peace now, out of pain, and in a place as beautiful as he imagined. He used to speak about this moment with such wonder and hope. Like meeting God was the greatest championship he’d ever have.”
Though their relationship had grown strained, the 37 year old mother of two, explained that they shared deeply personal conversations in his final years. “It was a series of private phone calls no one will ever hear, know, or understand. My father was confiding in me about issues weighing on his heart, both personal and business. I offered to be a life raft in whatever capacity he needed.”
She and her husband, Steven Olesky, even moved closer to Hulk as his health declined. But she began to notice troubling changes, particularly being excluded from his surgeries and inner circle.
Eventually, a series of “respectful disagreements” led Brooke to take a step back. Though painful, she said the choice was necessary to “protect [her] heart.”
Still, she holds no resentment. “He knows how deeply, how hard, and how purely I loved him. I am at peace knowing this.”
Their relationship, Brooke said, was far from perfect but it was meaningful. “We had a connection deeper than words. Even in silence, I could feel him. I always will.”
